Ben Steele - Ben Steele, a member of the University of California, Berkeley, football program the past two seasons, has joined new UC Davis coach Ron Gould's staff to coach tight ends while also serving as recruiting coordinator, it was announced on Thursday.

Steele was an administrative assistant for the Bears' offensive staff during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, joining Cal after two years with the University of Colorado and one at his alma mater Mesa State, now known as Colorado Mesa.

Besides bringing key NCAA Division I coaching experience, Steele brings extensive playing experience as a tight end as well. He spent the 2001-07 seasons in the NFL as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packer and Houston Texans.

He joined the NFL after a standout career at Mesa State from 1999-2000 where he was an All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honoree. Steele, who also played in the Cactus Bowl Div. II All-Star Game in 2001, spent his first two college seasons at Fort Lewis College before transferring to Mesa State.

He returned to Mesa State as an offensive assistant coach in 2008 following his professional playing career. Steele moved on to Colorado as operations and recruiting assistant in 2009 before serving as a graduate assistant in 2010.

Steele graduated from Mesa State in 2001 with his bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis in broadcasting. He put his education to use as a radio and television broadcaster in the Grand Junction, Colo., area, including as a weekend sports anchor in 2002 and 2003.

Steele furthered his education by receiving master's credit in 2006 while attending the NFL's Executive Business Program at the Harvard Business School.

He and his wife, Rachel, have been married for four years and have a baby daughter, Cora.